Clean Start

Actor James Marsden demonstrates how to achieve spring's unfettered look

Itís that time of year to press the refresh button on your wardrobe. So pare down your look, purge the closet, and be selective about what you buy. Here we show you the key moves—what to subtract and what to add to look great in '08.

JAMES MARSDEN (FINALLY) GETS THE GIRL

With bone structure like this, James Marsden is the kind of actor you expect to get the girl. But he doesn’t. Ever. As Cyclops in X-Men, he was overshadowed by Wolverine. In The Notebook, Rachel McAdams chose Ryan Gosling. In Superman Returns, he’s engaged to Lois Lane, and yet she still had a kid with Superman! But in this month’s 27 Dresses, Marsden plays opposite Knocked Up’s Katherine Heigl, and (spoiler alert) he finally comes out on top.

Most actors would find this beta-male career maddening. (There’s no big-screen Cyclops spin-off planned.) But Marsden actually considers himself lucky. Not only does he get to play the sorta weird, goofy character bits actors crave, but his performances also allow him to wink and nudge at our expectations. The Oklahoma native has been popping up in diverse and unexpected roles of late (see Hairspray). Perhaps it’s because, at age 34, he’s finally grown into his looks. The wrinkles about the eyes, the well-placed creases here and there—the man has weathered well, from a soap opera pinup with a high-definition smile to a handsome but believable dude.

Marsden expects to remain the prettiest character actor in the room, despite getting the girl in Dresses. And that’s just fine by him. “I’ve been up-and-coming for fifteen years now,” he says. “And to tell you the truth, it’s the perfect place to be.” It certainly makes fatherhood easier (he’s married with two kids). “I can still walk into the grocery store and most people don’t even blink an eye. If I can manage to still be up-and-coming when I’m 80 years old, then I’ll know I’ve had the ultimate career.”